<p>does african-american have to equal black?</p>
<p>IN the case of being identified as a URM- yes</p>
<p>bandit, you are right that you do not have to be a certain % to check that box, but colleges are not stupid and will quickly tell if you are checking it to get a leg up. Another thing most of the schools I applied to sent me another form to fill out(including dartmouth). They want to know the % blood you are, and your family background. So you are technically right that there is no % needed to check the box but when you fill out extra form they send it will look a little "fishy" if you fill in 1/32.</p>
<p>Also Tribal roles are still very strong (atleast in Alaska). Most of the Alaskan Natives that I know are very involved in their tribes/villages/corporations. I know that Alaska might be different considering we do not have reservations instead we have native corporations and villages. But it is kinda offensive, atleast to me, to say that our tribal roles have been closed etc. Just because you dont see it happening dosent mean it does not happen. I know you did not mean it so it is not a big deal.</p>
<p>Most US American Indian tribal roles are in fact closed to new submissions. Alaska is the last frontier and is likely different.</p>
<p>These tribes still operate and have enrollment services. I know of no tribes that have closed their enrollment... they would essentially killing off their traditions and culture by not letting new members in to keep the culture going. Here is some info from the BIA</p>
<p><a href="http://www.doi.gov/enrollment.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.doi.gov/enrollment.html</a></p>
<p>Whether you're in favor of AA or not, I think we could all agree that a person who is really a member of an under-represented minority would be certifiable not to check the box. My nephew, however, would be lying to do that--he doesn't "identify" as a NA--that's crap. </p>
<p>We've pretty much solved this problem: He's a legacy at the school he wants to attend. His mother, father and grandfather all went there. Hell, his grandfather played football there. If he checks the legacy box and the NA box--that's gonna get him caught really quick, as none of the other folks in our family who went to that school have ever identified as anything but white.</p>
<p>It's not exactly what I was hoping for him to learn out of this mess...but c'est la vie.</p>
<p>As for the poster who said that kids don't get into top schools fairly--that's nonsense. I went to top undergrad and law schools. I didn't have an "in" of any kind, and we didn't have a lot of cash either (bad public schools all the way up to undergrad). My husband got in the same way. And lots of our friends did, too, I bet. </p>
<p>Work hard. Be smart. You'll do fine.</p>